How are 4 year language degrees funded?

[sergeantmajor]

DS is deciding between applying for History or joint History & Spanish. He would get a loan for his tuition fees but we would fund his living costs. For financial reasons only, we'd prefer him to do a 3 year degree, whereas most language courses are 4 year, including a year of study abroad.

However, I was talking to someone who mentioned that the year abroad is very inexpensive, with minimal tuition fees abroad and living costs largely covered.

Can anyone fill me in on how it works? (DS's school is no use)

I think this depends on where he is going and where he is studying in the UK. I did a year abroad pre-Brexit (many years pre-Brexit) and it was a bargain but I don't know if that is true now.

Some unis are three year courses including a year abroad. Lancaster for example offer it as an option to students studying many subjects.

DD is in France this year. She only gets the minimum maintenance loan, but I think it is slightly more than for the other three years and on top of this she meant to be getting some money through Erasmus, but this hadn't materialised the last time I asked.

Is your DS not gettng the maintenance loan because he doesn't qualify for it, or because you, or he, don't want him to? If he is entitled to it, would it not make more sense for him to do so, to reduce the financial burden on you and give the option of the more common 'three plus one' degree courses? (Since the loan is the student's and no parental input is involved in his/her application for the basic amount of maintenance, he could just take it anyway, of course...).

Well I worked during my 3rd year. Our university had links with several European companies such as Renault and Airbus in France, and some in Germany and Spain too. I studied French, so those are the only ones I can remember. Part of the deal was that we were given time off for French lessons at the local uni.

Depends on the course. If studying a European language there often aren’t expensive tuition fees, so the maintenance loan covers just accomodation (which Erasmus or another similar company can help with). Most non-European courses find you local jobs that you can instead of study & are incredibly valued by industry as a result.

Person I know who did their year abroad in France 5 years ago.
Was linked up with job (through their university) as language assistant in college.
The work was part time but he earned enough to keep himself with small top up from parents.

@LIZS

Some unis are three year courses including a year abroad. Lancaster for example offer it as an option to students studying many subjects.

I think language degrees are 4 years - 3 years at a UK university plus a year abroad.

It’s more difficult to work abroad now, more are encouraged to attend uni abroad but tuition fees vary. I’ve one who missed theirs last year and one going next year so whilst I’m paying attention to such stuff I’ve no experience

Scotland would typically be 5 years so best to avoid.

www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/global-experiences/study-abroad-outgoing/#tabs-451836-0

Lancaster is unusual in that even non mfl degrees can include a year abroad but still be 3 years long. Fees are reduced while studying abroad.

Pre-brexit there were excellent opportunities but as the govt decided not to stay in the Erasmus scheme study in Europe is less accessible now. Some places offer just one term abroad so it's still a 3-year degree. It can be worth asking about work schemes too.

https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/studying-abroad/what-turing-scheme

My sister did it many many years ago and she taught in a primary school in her year abroad. She had a tiny bedsit in a converted garage that was damp.

I assume she got paid for that. I don't think she was studying at the same time. It was more about being immersed in the language and culture (French in her case).

First of all. Do the joint honours if at all possible. A parent should not restrict choices based on money. That sounds a bit harsh but learning a language is such a huge bonus, it really is worth the extra year.

Additionally, Universities are keen to fill up their MFL departments. You might find he gets a lower offer by including Spanish and that’s a big bonus. Having a MFL as well as History will mark your DC out as being a bit different and the year abroad is very valuable for the cv. It’s also a time to mature and grow up away from the home uni and parents! It’s a valuable year.

Now the Erasmus scheme is no more, I strongly suggest you look at the 3rd year abroad pages of the MFL departments at the universities DC likes. See what they say about funding. Plenty will have funding in place as they see it as vital. There are 3 years to go before he goes anywhere so the govt might get it’s act together. There are great universities in Spain and don’t look at a degree without the 3rd year abroad - it’s the best thing. Encourage him to do the joint honours and stand out from the crowd ! He might get work abroad but getting a university place is often better - he could study history in Spain.

DS is doing a mix of work (this term) and study (next term). The work is unpaid but he has accommodation and food provided, and very little opportunity to go and spend anything anyway, so he’s easily managing on a tiddly bit of loan.

Year abroad is still happening. Turing funding is replacing Erasmus, but not quite as generous. Vastly reduced fees for YA and some amazing experiences and opportunities.

It's great to do a language - but things have been much harder for students this year trying to do a year abroad in the EU because of the need for visas. It's very very hard to get a working visa for Spain - a student visa is not such a challenge so going to Uni there is safer. Or he may want to consider Latin America.

Also, does anyone have a Year Abroad student who has actually got any money from the Turing Scheme?

Nope. But he has some ‘legacy Erasmus’ funding, presumably from some agreement drawn up before Brexit.

Turing funding this year is delayed becausethere is some issue at governmental level, surprise surprise . . .

I did a year abroad in Spain a few years ago and finances were like this:

• no tuition fees
• standard maintenance loan increased by about £1k

I later did another year abroad in Latin America working for the British council who send thousands of young people abroad each year - including for 3rd year uni placements- and finances worked like this.

• I paid for my own flights
• I received enough money per month to pay my living costs plus pay for luxuries like holidays and social life
• I worked 12 hours per week for this and the rest of the time was my time to explore and learn the language

Both were great experiences but the British council scheme was the best year of my life and I know lots of people who loved it so much that they did it in their year abroad AND went back after uni for another year.

Definitely look for proper 4 year language courses. Apart from anything, your DC will learn a much higher standard of the language than if he/she just self studies or does an additional few credits rather than joint honours.

Latin American countries cost way more in air fares and can be unpredictable politically. Chile hasn’t been that brilliant recently. I would look at a university in Spain as a top pick but I would hope that in 2/3 years time, as required by the op, funding is sorted. At least the air fare will be cheaper whatever happens.

My ds has just started ML at Birmingham and they do ML & History. Have a look at their website as they give a good explanation of what happens which might be helpful:

www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/jointhonours/modern-languages-and-history.aspx?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_content=search&utm_campaign=crunch-ug-2022-domestic-cal-lcahm-modernlanguages

@redgerbera

It's great to do a language - but things have been much harder for students this year trying to do a year abroad in the EU because of the need for visas. It's very very hard to get a working visa for Spain - a student visa is not such a challenge so going to Uni there is safer. Or he may want to consider Latin America.

Also, does anyone have a Year Abroad student who has actually got any money from the Turing Scheme?

Universities haven't received Turing funding yet, but it'll be on its way.

DD is in Scotland doing a four year course. She'll get student finance from STE for four years. She's doing a year abroad right now (optional not compulsory) and is much better off. She's getting more from student finance this year, her uni still have erasmus funds, so getting that and accommodation is much cheaper £400pm rather than £525pm in UK, so she money left over.

By the way, she SFE before applying and they were really helpful, so if in doubt, I'd suggest he does that.

The DS won’t be going for 2 years after he starts in 2022. Funding will be different by then.